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Deng Adel on same basketball path as Mangok Mathiang

FISHERS, Ind. Deng Adel has taken a global basketball path similar to that of his friend and fellow Sudanese native Mangok Mathiang. Now the University of Louisville would like Adel to follow Mathiang one more time and choose the Cardinals as his college team.

Deng Adel on same basketball path as Mangok Mathiang

FISHERS, Ind. – Deng Adel has taken a global basketball path similar to that of his friend and fellow Sudanese native Mangok Mathiang. Now the University of Louisville would like Adel to follow Mathiang one more time and choose the Cardinals as his college team.

Mathiang, a sophomore center at U of L, and Adel, a four-star wing in the high school class of 2015, both moved to Australia from Sudan as youngsters. As teenagers they both ended up in Bradenton, Fla., to attend high school, learn the American game and gain exposure as recruiting prospects.

The 6-foot-7 Adel arrived in the United States in August and just completed his first year at Victory Rock Prep in Bradenton, where he averaged 22 points and eight rebounds and became a target of U of L and other major programs. This spring he's starring for the Florida Elite travel club on the adidas Gauntlet circuit, which is in Fishers this weekend.

The athletic Adel has emerged as a high-level prospect, earning scholarship offers from U of L, Florida, Connecticut and Southern Methodist as well as a No. 27 ranking in the class by 247Sports.com.

"He can really run, shoot and make plays in the open floor," said Loren Jackson, his guardian and coach at Victory Rock. "He has to continue to get better defensively, but he's a very good offensive player and a very good rebounder for his size."

Jackson said Adel's speed, athleticism and ball-handling remind him of Derek Anderson, who played for current U of L coach Rick Pitino at Kentucky.

Adel said U of L is probably recruiting him the hardest right now, although he referred most questions about that to Jackson, who also coached Mathiang at IMG Academy.

Adel said he has no favorite college at this point and is focusing more on developing his game. Jackson said Adel could cut his list next month and start visiting colleges in August.

It won't be a big surprise if U of L gets one of those visits. Because of their familiarity with Jackson, the Cardinals were one of the first teams to get involved with Adel.

Mathiang, who spent his first year in the United States at Brehm Prep in Carbondale, Ill., is one of "seven or eight" Sudanese players Jackson said he's helped earn college scholarships. Adel ended up with him in Florida in part because he'd seen Mathiang succeed under Jackson's guidance.

Jackson, 46, has known Pitino for more than 30 years, since attending the Five-Star basketball camps where Pitino was a counselor. Jackson, who also coached former U of L player Clarence Holloway at Chicago's Boys to Men Academy, said he has a "great relationship" with Pitino's staff.

"He's just a great coach. He knows what he's doing," said Jackson, whose sister graduated from U of L and provided a support system for Mathiang during his first year in Louisville.

Adel moved to Australia about 10 years ago and says he doesn't remember life in Sudan. He and Mathiang both lived in Melbourne, and they crossed paths on a weekly basis and played for some of the same club teams.

"He is like family to me," said Adel, who has followed Mathiang's progress at U of L. "He's going to have a big impact on them this year. He's an energy player."

Pitino, who also has coached Senegalese native Gorgui Dieng and Sudanese native Akoy Agau, has often said he likes players from Africa because of their attitude and work ethic. Jacson agrees.

"They're humble. They're hungry," he said. "They're not as spoiled as the American kids with some of the stuff that goes on over the years. They just want to learn and want to help their families."